Test Kits

starseed · 03/04/2006, 10:33 PM

What test kits do you guys recommend.

I love Salifert for Nitrite, Nitrate, Cal, Alk, Phosphate

But Salifert's Ph, Ammonia, Iodine and Copper never work for me.

Any recommondations for Ph, Ammonia and Iodine test kits?

SDguy · 03/04/2006, 10:42 PM

Don't trust pH to a test kit. Get a monitor. Or if you ever plan to get a CR, get a monitor/controller. Excellent investment.

I personally haven't owned an ammonia test kit since my first tank over 15 years ago, so can't comment. And I neither add nor test for iodine.

Oh, and get yourself a Magnesium salifert test kit also. Very helpful when adjusting ca/alk levels.

mg426 · 03/04/2006, 11:21 PM

Salifert. Just got a new ca kit today. Old kit read 410 PPM / New kit read 405 PPM Pretty awesome.

TWallace · 03/05/2006, 12:40 AM

I use Salifert for pH, Alkalinity and Phosphate. I was using an Aquarium Pharmaceuticals test kit for pH and found it extremely vague on the readings. The resulting color didn't match any of the colors shown on the kit very well, so it was kind of a guess as to what my pH was. The Salifert pH kit works way better for me.

nemo g · 03/05/2006, 01:24 AM

not sure as to others, but i went with seachem due to "reviews" and price.

i like the way the nitirite and nitrate can be done in combination. ie, nitrite can be done first, and if wanted/needed, another solution is added to check for the nitrate.

i dont have anything for reference, so as to accuracy i cant say. but for the price and simplicity, im content.

i got lucky, drs foster and smith have all the test kits on sale for $7.99. the marine basic kit is $25. not too shabby for my first test kits.

in the future, or if someone gives me some, ill get some salifert just to see how the measurements "measure up" against each other.

problem is, if they are off, which is the accurate one?

guess id need to find a lab to do my testing

03/04/2006, 10:33 PM	#1
starseed Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: San Francisco Posts: 275	Test Kits What test kits do you guys recommend. I love Salifert for Nitrite, Nitrate, Cal, Alk, Phosphate But Salifert's Ph, Ammonia, Iodine and Copper never work for me. Any recommondations for Ph, Ammonia and Iodine test kits?

03/04/2006, 10:42 PM	#2
SDguy Fish heads unite! Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: San Diego Posts: 23,384	Don't trust pH to a test kit. Get a monitor. Or if you ever plan to get a CR, get a monitor/controller. Excellent investment. I personally haven't owned an ammonia test kit since my first tank over 15 years ago, so can't comment. And I neither add nor test for iodine. Oh, and get yourself a Magnesium salifert test kit also. Very helpful when adjusting ca/alk levels. __________________ Peter SDMAS member Marine tanks since 1989. ><((((º>`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸.·´¯`·...¸><((((º> ·´¯`·.¸. , . .·´¯`·.. ><((((º> Current Tank Info: 240g butterfly and angel FOWLR. 15g QT.

03/04/2006, 11:21 PM	#3
mg426 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: maryland Posts: 6,923	Salifert. Just got a new ca kit today. Old kit read 410 PPM / New kit read 405 PPM Pretty awesome. __________________ I found a way to make a small fortune running a reef tank. Start with a large fortune. Unofficial President of the SEACLONE haters club Current Tank Info: 125 mixed reef 110 lbs LR, 1x250watt XM 20K MH 2x175watt XM 20K MH on Magetics 2X96 watt actinic PC, 220 watt VHO actinic, 30 gallon refugium, closed loop system powered by Sequence Dart MSX 200 skimmer 38 gallon sump, Oceansmotions squirt

03/05/2006, 01:24 AM	#5
nemo g Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: west side iz da best Posts: 1,039	not sure as to others, but i went with seachem due to "reviews" and price. i like the way the nitirite and nitrate can be done in combination. ie, nitrite can be done first, and if wanted/needed, another solution is added to check for the nitrate. i dont have anything for reference, so as to accuracy i cant say. but for the price and simplicity, im content. i got lucky, drs foster and smith have all the test kits on sale for $7.99. the marine basic kit is $25. not too shabby for my first test kits. in the future, or if someone gives me some, ill get some salifert just to see how the measurements "measure up" against each other. problem is, if they are off, which is the accurate one? guess id need to find a lab to do my testing __________________ nG Current Tank Info: tis da bestest tank eva

03/05/2006, 12:40 AM	#4
TWallace Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Seattle Posts: 1,464	I use Salifert for pH, Alkalinity and Phosphate. I was using an Aquarium Pharmaceuticals test kit for pH and found it extremely vague on the readings. The resulting color didn't match any of the colors shown on the kit very well, so it was kind of a guess as to what my pH was. The Salifert pH kit works way better for me.